Joblessness inches its way upward

Unemployment in both Oconee County and South Carolina increased in the month of July. The Department of Employment and Workforce report covering the summer month shows the state’s rate rose nearly one-half of a percentage point—from 5.3% in June to 5.7% in July. For Oconee County, the size of the increase was nearly identical—from 6.2% in June to 6.7% in July. But DEW points to a couple of promising signs. Since July last year, nearly 29 thousand South Carolinians have found work and the workforce rose by 15 thousand. Oconee’s jobless rate for July 2013 stood at 8.5%.